Paul addresses the apparent failure of God's promises to Israel, expressing profound sorrow for his kinsmen according to the flesh while defending divine sovereignty in election. Using the examples of Isaac over Ishmael, Jacob over Esau, and the hardening of Pharaoh, he establishes God's prerogative to show mercy to whom He will, comparing the divine potter's right over the clay to prepare vessels both of wrath and of mercy.
Read Romans Chapter 9 Summary
Original
Characters in This Chapter
Places in This Chapter
Position in Book
IntroductionChapters 1:1-17
Greeting, desire to visit, gospel summary.
Sin's ProblemChapters 1:18-3:20
JustificationChapters 3:21-5:21
SanctificationChapters 6-8
Israel's FutureChapters 9-11
God's sovereignty, Israel's rejection and future restoration.
Christian LivingChapters 12-16
Bible Bites
Paul Wrote Romans from Corinth
Paul wrote his longest epistle to the Romans from the city of Corinth around AD 57 during his third missionary journey. He had never visited Rome when he wrote this comprehensive theological treatise.
RomansThe scribe breaks the fourth wall
Paul dictated Romans to a scribe. Near the end, that scribe suddenly speaks up in his own voice: 'I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord' (Romans 16:22). A brief, human 'fourth-wall' moment slipped right into Scripture.
Romans 16:22